Car door



Aug 17, 1937. F. DITCHFIEL'D 2,090,189

GAR DOOR Filed Oct. 5, 1936 '7 Sheets-Sheet l JN VENTOR- tIl FRA/VK D/Tc/-fF/ELD Aug. 17, 1937s F. DITCHFIELD CAR DOOR Filed Oct. 3, 1936 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 @MLM TTY

Aug, 17, 1937. F. DxTcHFlELD CAR DOOR Filed Oct. 5, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 17, 1937. F. DITCHFIELD CAR DOOR Filed Oct. 5, 1936 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 uw TTY F. DITcI-IFII-:LD

CAR DOOR TTX Aug. l??? 1937.

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I CAR DOOR Filed oct. s, 195e 7 sheets-sheet 'r ATTX Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT FFlQE CAR DOOR Application October 3, 1936, Serial No. 103,913

13 Claims.

This invention relates to car doors and is directed more particularly to doors of the sliding lift type for railway house cars.

It is an object of this invention to provide doors for railway house cars capable of support for sliding movement upon antifriction means arranged for horizontal movement relative to the doors when said doors have been moved vertically by elevating mechanism designed to eliminate sliding friction between the parts of said mechanism and between said doors and their normal frictional supports.

A further object is to provide car doors of the sliding lift type having elevating mechanism so designed as to obviate loose parts.

A further object is to provide car doors of the sliding lift type having elevating mechanism capable of maintaining the doors in raised position wherein said mechanism is automatically actuated at predetermined positions of said doors to effect lowering movement of said doors.

A further object is to provide car doors of the sliding lift type having elevating mechanism incorporating operating levers capable of assembly with said mechanism from the outside of the doors and designed for ready replacement without necessitating removal of the doors from the cars.

A further object is to provide c-ar doors of the sliding lift type adapted to be frictionally supported when lowered, and adapted to be elevated and antifrictionally supported by means comprising balls and a ball runway, the latter being actuated yat predetermined positions of said doors to secure lowering movement thereof.

A further object is to provide car doors of the sliding lift type having elevating mechanism incorporating levers having integral shafts or pins, said levers being adapted for assembly with the l0 mechanism from the outside of the doors and being similarly replaceable while the doors are mounted upon the cars.

With these and other objects in View, which u will become clear as the description of the in- 'vention proceedsJ this invention embodies the novel structure and combination of parts more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a sliding lift door embodying one form of the invention, the door being shown in lowered or normal d position.

(Cl. 2li- 22) Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, showing the door in elevated position.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4 11 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 6 6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on line 1 1 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 8 8 of Figure 1.

lFigure 9 is a fragmentary elevation of a modiiied form of the invention, the door being shown elevated and partly open.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, the door being shown fully opened and lowered.

Figure 11 is a vertical section taken on line Il ll of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a vertical section taken on line |2 I2 of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a horizontal section taken on line l3-I3 of Figure 10.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary elevational view of another form of the invention, the door being shown lowered and closed.

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14 showing the door elevated and closed.

Figure 16 is a View similar to Figure 14 showing the door fully opened and elevated.

Figure 17 is a horizontal section taken on line Il ll of Figure 14.

Figure 18 is a vertical section taken on line I8-I8 of Figure 14.

Figure 19 is a vertical section taken on line |9-I9 of Figure 14.

Figure 20 is a fragmentary elevation showing a further modied form of the invention.

Referring to' the drawings and more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, there is shown a sliding lift door indicated generally by the reference numeral l0. 'I'he door lil preferably embodies a metallic panel H, formed with spaced horizontal corrugations i2, I3 and M and vertical corrugations disposed adjacent the vertical edges of the panel. The front vertical margin of the door is reinforced by means of a substantially channel shaped member l5 having outwardly extending legs I6 and i'l of unequal length, as more clearly shown in Figure 17 of the drawings and adapted to cooperate with a front stop member I8 in order to weather-proof the front edge of the door. The front stop member I8 is secured to the outwardly extending leg I9 of the front door post 26. Metallic sheathing 2| is secured as by means of rivets 22 to the web- 23 of the door post.

' The rear vertical margin of the door is reinforced by means of a weather strip 24 and 'a buffer angle 25 secured to said rear edge of the door as by means of rivets 25A. The weather-strip 24 10 cooperates with a guard and spark strip 26 riveted to the outwardly extending leg 21 of the rear door post 2S. The sheathing 2| is riveted to the web 29 of the rear door post as indicated at 36.

The lower horizontal margin of the door is reinforced by means of a substantially Z shaped member 3|, the web 32 of which is adapted to frictionally engage the track 33 when the door is in its lowered or normal position, as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The upper horizontal margin of the door may be reinforced in any desired manner.

In addition to the reinforcing member 3| secured to the lower margin of the door, this margin is reinforced by means of a substantially Z shaped member 34 which, as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, is disposed in relation to the rein-forcing member 3l to provide a chamber 35 within which the antifriction supporting means for the door is located. The reinforcing members 3i and 34 are disposed relative to the track so as to provide the respective flanges 36 and 31 which overlap the track thereby limiting outward and inward movement of the door relative to the car,

Seated within the chamber 35 and upon the track 33 is a pair of balls 36 and 39 adapted to be maintained in spaced relationship by means of a ball spacer 46 supported upon the track 33. The balls 36 and 36 are spaced apart, a distance 40 somewhat greater than one-half the width of the door. A ball run-way 4i, preferably of substantially inverted V shape in cross-section, is supported upon the balls 36 and 39 for longitudinal movement relative to the door and to the track. Secured upon the ball run-way 4| and 'adjacent to the ends thereof, are the members 42 and 43, each of which is provided with a similarly inclined portion 44 and 45. At substantially the center of the ball run-way 4l a member 46 is secured, this member being formed with a plurality of teeth 41 arranged in angular relationship to the ball run-way.

With reference to Figure l of the drawings, it will be observed that the reinforcing member 34 5,5 terminates short of the vertical edges of the door.

A bracket 48- extends from one end of the member 34 substantially to the front vertical edge of the door. This bracket 4&3 is riveted to the door as by means of rivets 46 and to the channel shaped reinforcing member' t5, as by means of rivets 56.

To permit the latter securement of the bracket 48, the channel reinforcing member l5 is coped, as

indicated at 5l thereby removing a portion of the outwardly extending flange il of this member. ln order to compensate for the portion of the ange |'1 which is thus removed, the bracket 48 is provided with an outwardly extending leg 52 disposed in vertical alignment with the flange l1 of the channel reinforcing member l5, so as to cooperate with the front stop member i8 in order to weather-proof the door. The bracket 4B overlaps and is riveted to the adjacent end of the reinforcing member 34, as more clearly indicated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. The lower portion of the bracket 48, as clearly indicated in Figures 3 and 4, follows substantially the contour of the reinforcing member 34 so as to provide a prolongation of the chamber 35 for the reception of the contiguous portion of the ball run-way 4|.

Above this portion the bracket 48 is provided with a housing 53 within which a roller 54 is 1ocated. The roller 54 is mounted upon a pin 55, the head 56 of which lies between the housing 53 and the panel of the door to prevent loss of the pin. The roller 54 and the inclined portion 44 of Athe member 42 secured to the ball run-way 4|,

are in longitudinal alignment as more clearly illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings.

Similarly a bracket 51 extends from the contiguous end of the reinforcing member 34 to the rear vertical edge of the door. The bracket 51 is secured to the door as by means of rivets 58 and overlaps and is secured to the end of the rey inforcing member 34, as by means of rivets 59. The lower portion of the bracket 51 provides a continuation of the chamber 35. The upper portion of this bracket is formed with a housing 66 in which is received a roller 6| mounted upon a.

pin 62, the head 63 of which is disposed between the housing and the panel of the door to prevent loss of the pin. The inclined portion 45 of the member 43, which is secured to the ball runway 4 is disposed in longitudinal alignment with the roller 6| carried by the bracket 51.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the ball run-way and the members 42 and 43 secured thereupon are capable of longitudinal movement upon the balls 38 and 39 relative to the door and to the track. It will be manifest moreover, that this movement in view of the stated relationship between the rollers 54 and 6| and the inclined portions 44 and 45 of the members 42 and 43, will bring about engagement between these inclined portions and their respective rollers so as to effect an upward vertical movement of the door. In the considered embodiment of the invention this movement is obtained by means of a toothed member 64 keyed upon a shaft 65 for rotation therewith, within a housing 66 formed on the bracket 61 riveted to the door as by means of rivets 68 substantially centrally of the door. The shaft 65 is journaled in the housing 66, as clearly shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, and extends outwardly beyond the housing. The outwardly extending portion of the shaft 65 is provided with parallel vertical faces 69 and 16, which are engaged by similar faces provided on the lower portion of an operating lever 1| mounted upon the projecting portion of the shaft 65. The lower portion of the lever 1| is provided with anges 12 and 13 disposed behind flanges 14 and 15 formed on the housing 66 in order to prevent disengagement to the lower portion of the lever from the shaft. The operating lever 1| is securely retained upon the door and guided in its operating movement by means of a quadrant 16 fastenedfto the door and disposed between the main portion of the lever and a tongue 11 provided on the rear side of the lever,

In order to move the door from its lowered and closed position, illustrated in Figure 1 in which the door is frictionally supported upon the track by means of the engagement between the reinforcing member 3i and the track, the operating lever 1| is pulled downwardly. Inasmuch as the teeth provided on the member 64 are interlocked with the teeth 41 provided on the member 46 fastened to the ball run-way 4|, the downward movement of the operating lever will impart a longitudinal movement toward the left, as viewed in Figure 1, to the ball run-way. During this movement of the ball run-way the inclined portions lill and d5 of the members l2 and fastened to the ball run-way will engage the rollers 54 and 6l, thereby effecting elevating movement of the door. Inasmuch as the ball run-way 'il is supported upon the balls 38 and 39, the weight of the door will then be transferred from the track to the balls so that the door can readily be moved to the open position. It is to be observed that all the movements of the door, both in elevation and in sliding to open position, as well as the movement of the ball runway, occur upon antifriction means. The door in its elevated position is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. It will be apparent, moreover, from a consideration of the ligure that upon the release of the operating lever 7|, which is shown in its lowered position, the door will be biased downwardly by the action of gravity and that the rollers will, therefore, through cooperation with the members 42 and 'i3 cause the ball run-way to move toward the right so that the door may be lowered to re-establish irictional engagement with the track.

In addition to the cooperation between the toothed member @il and member 3:3 secured to the ball run-way for obtaining elevating movement of the door, these members cooperate to prevent upward bowing oi the ball run-way il which might be occasioned as a result of the weight of that portion of the door which overhangs the ball 38 when the door is in closed and elevated position, or by the weight of the door which over-hangs the ball 39 when the door is in open and elevated position.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 9 to 13 inclusive, utilizes members lil and 'i9 secured .adjacent to the ends of the ball run-way which, in addition to the inclined portions Bll and 8|, are provided with horizontal or at portions 82 and E3. By reason of this formation of the members '58 and 'i9 the rollers @il and 6| will in the elevated position of the door be supported upon the flat portions 82 and so that the operating lever l! may be released when the door is elevated and the door sustained in its elevated position. With this form of the invention, however, means are provided in order to insure automatic lowering movement of the door .when it reaches its fully closed and fully opened positions. For this purpose the ball run-way il is modified by the provision. of an extension 84 projecting beyond the front edge oi the ball way. Moreover, the bracket secured to the rear margin of the door is modied. In addition to the structure of the bracket 5l, the modified bracket S5 includes a housing 96 within which a bell crank 8l is pivoted, as indicated at 88. The upper arm 8S of the bell crank extends through a slot 9d formed in the outer face of the housing 86. The lower arm 9i of the bell crank is bifurcated, as shown at 92, in order to engage projections 93 and gli extending from opposite sides of a projection 95 extending from the rear end of the ball run-way di.

The operation of the considered modified form of the invention will become clear from an inspection of Figures 9 and i0 of the drawings. In Figure 9 the door is shown in its elevated and partly opened position. This position of the door has been obtained by a downward pull on the operating lever ll, whereupon longitudinal movement of the ball run-way and the brackets `|8 and 19 toward the left, as viewed in Figure 9,

is had effecting elevating movement of the door and seating of the rollers 54 and 6| upon the horizontal portions EE and 83 of the members 'id and 59. The operating lever 'H may then be released and the door will remain in its elevated position upon the members 'i8 and '19. The longitudinal movement of the ball run-way and consequently of the extension S5 secured to the ball run-way bring about engagement between the projections 953 and 9d on said extension and the bifurcated portions of the lower arm 9| of the bell crank S7. The bell crank, therefore, is caused to rotate about its pivot 88 thereby swinging the upper arm i9 downwardly in position for engagement by the door back-stop 9S. As the door approaches its full opened position the arm 39 of the bell crank will contact the back-stop Se, thereby causing said arm to swing upwardly and the. lower arm 9| to swing rearwardly. Swinging movement of the lower arm by reason of its engagement with the projections 93 and 94 on the extension 95 of the ball run-way, will force the run-way toward the right, as viewed in Figure l of the drawings, thereby effecting disengagement of the members 78 and 'F9 from the rollers Sil .and 6i, permitting the door to lower and establish frictional engagement with the supporting track. It will be observed from Figure 9 of the drawings, that the downward pull upon the operating lever 'il causes the ball run-way extension S to project beyond the front vertical edge of the door so that when the door is returned to its closed position the extension 8f3 will strike against the front door stop and eiect lowering movement of the door.

A further modied form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 14 to 19 inclusive. This form of the invention also utilizes the supporting hails 38 and 39 upon which is disposed the ball run-way di. A member 9'! is secured adjacent to the rear end of the ball run-way 4|. The member 9'! is provided with spaced oppositely inclined portions 98 and 9i? beyond which flat portions lllil and lill are formed. The member 9? is adapted to cooperate with a roller it mounted within a bracket U63 by means of a pin liill fastened in said bracket by a rivet 95 seated within an annular recess iilEA formed adjacent the outer end of the pin. The bracket m3 is secured adjacent the lower right hand corner of the door and the lower portion provides in effect an extension of the chamber 35, formed by the door reinforcing members 3| and 3Q A bracket it is secured to the lower margin'of the door substantially centrally thereof. This bracket carries a roller IM adapted to cooperate with a member |68 secured to the runway and provided with oppositely inclined portions |09 and II@ and flat portions Ill and H2 to prevent upward bowing of the ball run-way.

A member i3 is secured to the iront end of the ball run-way 4|. The central portion of this member is depressed, as indicated at l M, and the resulting end portions and i I6 are provided with oppositely inclined portions lll and H8. Beyond these inclined portions are the horizontal portions H9 and |20. The front end of the ball run-Way and the member I I3 lie within a bracket |2| secured to the lower left hand corner of the door and to the adjacent end of the reinforcing member 3Q. A roller i22 is carried in a housing |23 formed in the bracket |2|. The roller l 22 is mounted in said bracket by means of a shaft |2l formed integrally with an operating lever |25. The shaft |24 is journaled within bearings |26 and |27 formed in the walls of the housing |23. The portions of the shaft |24 adjacent the ends of the cylindrical portion |28, upon which the roller |22 is mounted, are non-circu-r lar in section and are received within similarly 5 shaped openings formed in the upper part of a rocker arm |29. The lower part of the rocker arm, indicated at |35, is disposed upon opposite sides of the depressed portion of the member i3 and is adapted to abut against the end portions l ||5 and H6 of said member in order to impart longitudinal movement to the ball run-way. The rocker arm, as clearly indicated in Figure 18 of the drawings, is preferably, though not necessarily, in the form of a member whose cross-section l is substantially H shaped. The contour of the lower arms of the H shaped rocker is clearly illustrated in Figure 14 of the drawings and is so designed as to have rolling engagement with the end portions ||5 and llt of the member H3 20 to thereby avoid or minimize friction. The integral operating lever and shaft are secured to the bracket l2! by means of a headed member ISI disposed in an annular groove |32 formed in the shaft |26. By this arrangement the lever and shaft may be associated with the roller |22 from the outside of the bracket l2| and fastened in said bracket from the outside thereof, in the manner hereinabove indicated. It will be apparent, therefore, in the event of damage to the operating lever or to the shaft, the lever and shaft unit may be removed and a new unit replaced without necessitating removal of the door from the car. nr' The ends of the ball run-way fil, which are preferably in the form of extensions |33 and |34 of said run-way, are adapted to extend beyond adjacent vertical edges of the door when the latter is elevated, depending upon the direction of the longitudinal movement of the ball run-way. 40 In Figure 14 of the drawings, the door is illustrated in its closed and lowered position. At this time the operating lever |25 will assume the angular position illustrated. In order to move the door to open position the lever |25 is rotated until it assumes the substantially vertical position illustrated in Figure 15 of the drawings. During this angular movement o t the lever, rotation of the shaft |24 is obtained and consequent angular displacement of the rocker arm which is mounted upon the shaft. The lower end of the rocker arm will abut against the right hand portion HS of the member ||3 so as to move the ball run-way toward the right, as viewed in Figures 14 and 15. During this movement of the ball run-way the inclined portions 95, lilg, of the members 9i', |98 and H3, fastened to the ball run-way, will engage the rollers m2, it? and |22 and the door will be elevated above the track. In elevated position the door will be supported upon the flat portions |00, lll and H9 oi" the ball run-way members so as to sustain the door in its elevated position even though the operating lever 25 be released. The movement or" the ball run-way :ll toward the right will cause the run-way extension liill to project beyond the adjacent vertical edge of the door. After the door has been elevated, as above described, it may have moved upon the balls 3S and 39 to open position. As it approaches its full open position the extension |34 will contact the door stop s6, causing the ball run-way to move toward the left, as viewed in Figure l5, relative to the door. The rollers |i2, itl and |22 will thereby be disengaged from the flat portions of the members secured to the ball run-way and the door will then lower until frictional engagement with the track is reestablished. In fully opened position the relationship of the parts ofnthe lifting mechanism, as disclosed in Figure 14, will be restored. l

In order to move the door from its open posi- 5 tionto closed position the operating lever |25 is pulled downwardly so that it assumes the position shown in Figure 16 of the drawings. The action of the lower portion oi the rocker arm upon the left hand portion H5 of the member l0 H3 secured to the ball run-Way, will cause the run-way to move toward the left, as viewed in Figure 16, and the extension |33 to project beyond the adjacent vertical edge of the door. This movement oi the ball run-way will effect elevating 15 movement of the door by the cooperation between the right hand inclined portions of the members secured to the ball run-way and the rollers with which they cooperate. When elevated these rollers will be supported upon the right hand hori- 20 sontal portions of these members. As the door is moved toward closed position, and as it approaches the end of this movement, the run-way extension |33 will Contact the front door stop I8 and will 'thereby be forced toward the right, as 25 viewed in Figure 16 relative to the door. -The lowering movement of the door is thus obtained and the operating lever |25 will again be restored to the position illustrated in Figure 14 oi' the drawings. 301

In the embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figures l/l to 19 inclusive, the direction of angulai` movement ci the operating lever |25 is controlled by the direction of travel of the door. In Figure 20, however, an embodiment of the inven- 35 tion is shown in which the Operating lever |25 is `always moved in the same direction, that'is, downwardly regardless of whether the door is moved toward open or toward closed position. In this embodiment of the invention only the right 40 hand portion |35 of the member |35 secured to the left hand of the ball run-way is provided with an inclined portion lill. The left hand portion |38 of the member |35 serves merely as an abutment for the lower end of the rocker arm through 45 which movement is imparted to the ball run-way. Adjacent the right end of the ball run-way, a member i3 is fastened. This member has a portion 45 inclined similarly to the portion |31 and adapted to cooperate with the roller 6|, carried 50 in the housing 63, formed in the lower right hand corner bracket 5l, as hereinabove described, with respect to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures l to 9 inclusive. The bracket |35 secured to the lower left hand corner of the 55 door carries a roller B4B adapted to cooperate with the inclined portion |31 to obtain elevation of the door. The brackets 5l and |39 are secured to the adjacent ends of the reinforcement 35, as well as to the door. While no means is illustrated 60 to prevent upward bowing of the ball run-way 4| in the modification illustrated in Figure 20 of the drawings, it will be apparent that such means may be utilized if desired.

With the door in its lowered and closed posi- 65 tion, as illustrated in Figure 20, elevation thereof is obtained by downward pull uponr the operating lever |25. A force is thereby exerted by the lower end of the rocker arm |25 against the abutment lii so that the ball run-way ill is moved toward 70 the left. During this movement the inclined portions i5 and itl will engage the rollers 6| and lli@ and the door will thereby be elevated.

'Elevation of the door will be. maintained as long as the operating lever is held in its low-ered posi- 75 tion. Upon release of the operating lever the weight of the door will cause the members i3 and |36 to move toward the right, whereupon the door will be lowered and again assume frictional engagement with the track. It will be apparent that this operation will obtain regardless whether the door is being moved to open position or closed position, and since the rollers 6l and It are at all times; supported upon the inclined portions 45 and i3? the need for extensions of the ball run-way is obviated.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes be comprehended Within this invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim :A Y

l. A sliding lift door structure for railway house cars comprising a ball run-way, balls supporting said run-way, spaced members secured to said run-way having inclined portions and hat portions, rollers fastened to said door, means for imparting horizontal movement to said run-way upon said balls, said inclined portions of said members engaging said rollers during said movement of the run-way to elevate said door and dispose said rollers upon said flat portions of said members, whereby said door is maintained in elevated position and means for automatically imparting horizontal movement to said run-way at a predetermined point in the travel of said door to disengage said fiat portions from said rollers for the purpose set forth.

2. A sliding lift door structure for railway house cars comprising a ball run-way, balls supporting said run-way, spaced members secured to said run-way having inclined portions, brackets fastened to the lower corners of said doors, rollers carried by said brackets and means for imparting horizontal movement to said run-way upon said balls, said rollers being engaged by the inclined portions of said members during said movement of the run-way to elevate said door.

3. A sliding lift door structure for railway house cars comprising a ball run-way, balls supporting said run-way, spaced members secured to said run-way having inclined portions, shafts fastened to and extending at right angles to said door, rollers mounted upon said shafts and cooperable with said members, and means for imparting horizontal movement to said run-way upon said balls, the inclined portions of said members engaging said rollers and elevating said door during said movement of the run-way.

4. A sliding lift door structure for railway house cars comprising a ball run-way, balls supporting said run-way, spaced members secured to said run-way having inclined portions and at portions, rollers fastened to said door, means for imparting horizontal movement to said run-way upon said balls, said inclined portions of said members engaging said rollers during said movef ment of the run-way to elevate said door and dispose said rollers upon said fiat portions of said members, whereby said door is maintained in elevated position and means for automatically disengaging said flat portions from said rollers at a predetermined point in the movement of said door for the purpose set forth.

5. In a railway house car having a track, a door frictionally supported upon asaid track, a plurality of balls supported by said track for longitudinal movement relative thereto and to said door, means for spacing said balls, a bar supported by said balls, spaced members having inclined portions secured to said bar, rollers fastened to said door and means for moving said bar longitudinally upon said balls for effecting engagement between. said rollers and said inclined portions to elevate said door above said track.

6. In a railway house car', a door, mea-ns provided on said car for frictionaliy supporting said door, rotary means carried by said car, a bar disposed upon said rotary means for longitudinal movement relative thereto and to said door, members having inclined portions secured to said bar, rollers fastened to said door and means for imparting longitudinal movement to said bar, the inclined portions of said members engaging said rollers during saidmovement of the bar and elevating said door above its frictional supporting means.

'7. A sliding lift door structure for railway house cars comprising a ball run-way, balls supporting said run-way, spaced members secured to said run-way having inclined portions and flat portions, rollers fastened to said door, means for imparting horizontal movement to said run-way upon said4 balls and projecting at end of said run-way beyond the adjacent vertical edge: of said door, said inclined portions of Said members engaging said rollers during said movement of the run-way to elevate the door and dispose said rollers upon` the hat portions of said members whereby said door is maintained in elevated poisition, said projecting end of thel run-way striking against a member secured to said car as said door approaches an eXtreme position to impart horizontal move-ment to said run-way for the purpose set forth.

8. A sliding lift door structure for railway house cars comprising a longitudinally movable bar, rotary means supporting said bar, shafts secured to said door, rollers mounted upon said shafts, one of said shafts being rotatable within the roller mounted thereon, a rocker arm associated with said one shaft for rotation therewith, spaced members having inclined portions secured to said bar, an` abutment fastened to said barl and means for rotating said one shaft and rocker arm, said rocker arm exerting a force against said abutment for effecting longitudinal movement of said bar and engagement between said inclined portions of said members and the rollers to elevate said door.

9. A sliding lift door structure for railway house cars comprising a longitudinally movable bar, rotary means supporting said bar, shafts secured to said door, rollers mounted upon said shafts, one of said shafts being rotatable within the roller mounted thereon, a rocker arm associated with said one shaft for rotation therewith, spaced members having inclined portions secured to said bar, an` abutment fastened to said bar and means integral with said one shaft fo-r rotating said one shaft and rocker arm, said rocker arm exterting a force; against said abutment for effecting longitudinal movement of said bar and engagement between said inclined portions of said members and the rollers to elevate said door.

l0. A sliding lift door structure for railway house cars comprising a longitudinally mbvable bar, rotary means supporting said bar, a bracket secured to said door, :a roller mounted in. said bracket, a second bracket secured to said door, bearings provided by said second bracket, a shaft having lever means integral therewith journaled in said bearings, a roller mounted upon said shaft, a rocker arm associated with said shaft for rotation the-rewith, spaced members having inclined portions fastened to said bar, an abutment fastened to said bar and cooperable with said rocker arm, said shaft being positioned in said bearings from the outside of said second bracket, and means accessible from the outside 1o of said door for fastening said shaft` in said second bracket.

1l. A sliding lift door structure for railway house: cars comprising a longitudinally movable bar, rotary means supporting said bar, a bracket.

secured to said door, a roller mounted in said bracket, a second bracket secured to said door, bearings provided by second bracket, a shaft having lever means integral therewith journaled in said bea-rings, a roller mounted upon said shaft, a rocker arm associated with said shaft for rotation therewith, spaced members having inclined portions fastened to said bar, an abutment fastened to said bar and cooperable with said rocker arm, said. shaft being positioned in v said bearings from the outside of second bracket,

an annular groove formed in said shaft and a pin lying in said groove and fastened to said second bracket for securing said shaft thereto, said pin being accessible from. the outside of said door.

l2. In a railway house car, a door, means provided on. said car for frictionally supporting said door, rotary means carried by said car, a bar disposed upon said rotary means for longitudinal movement relative thereto and to said door, members having inclined portions secured adjacent to and substantially mid-Way between the ends of said bar,-rollers fastened to said door adjacent to and substantially mid-way between the lower corners of said door and kmeans for imparting longitudinal movement to said bar, the inclined portions of said members engaging said rollers during said movement of the bary and elevating said door above its frictional supporting means, said middle roller and member cooperating to prevent upward bowing of said bar.

13. In a railway house car, a door, means pro;- vided on said car for frictionally supporting said door, rotary means carried by said car, a bar disposed upon said rotary means for longitudinal movement relative thereto and to said door, members having inclined portions secured adjacent to the ends of said bar, a member secured substantially mid-way between the ends of said bar, rollers fastened to said door adjacent to and substantially mid-way between. the lower corners of said door and means: for imparting longitudinal movement to said bar, the inclined portions of said members engage said rolle-rs adjacent to the corners of said doors during said'movement of said bar and elevating said door above its frictional supporting means, the remaining member and roller cooperating to prevent upward bowing of said bar.

FRANK DITCHFIELD. 

